Chp 10
Percy's POV

I woke up, blinking my eyes as the sunlight streamed through the windows. I turned to see Annabeth sleeping soundly, tear stained cheeks from the night before. I wanted so badly to make her feel better. Not like her mother made her feel.

I kissed her forehead before getting up. I got into a shower, running my fingers through my hair. I sighed, trying to let the warm water relax my tense muscles. I wanted to let out all the anger I had at Athena.

I got out, flicking my wet hair. I got changed into my sweats and a blue t-shirt. I came out my bathroom, seeing Ann still asleep. I smiled at her sleeping figure before going downstairs.

I had just made myself a cup of coffee when there was a knock at my door. I opened it, finding my dad. He gave a smile and I returned it, exchanging a hug. I let him in and we went to the kitchen.

I offered him coffee but he said he had already had. After a few moments of silence, he asked, "So you and Annabeth?" It made me feel like a nervous teenager again but I nodded with defiance, ready to stand up for her if possible.

But he just smiled. "How?" Was all he managed to get out, chuckling. I smiled, knowing he wasn't angry about it. "Well, we kind of met at a bar. Be both were a bit drunk. Bottom line, she ended up coming to my place, and I didn't think she would be able to remember her address so let her stay the night." I said.

He smirked but didn't comment. "So we kinda just, you know, start seeing each other more after that." I said. He scratched his chin and asked, "How long since the whole meeting at a bar?"

I thought a bit. "Two to three months?" I said, trying to think. He raised an eyebrow. "How have I been so oblivious to this?" Phenomenon asked, but I chuckled. There was a knock at the door, so he followed me as I answered him and went to get the door.

"She didn't want anyone to know due to you and her mom not being on best terms." I said. He nodded as I opened the door to be met with Aphrodite and Ares. "Hi." I said, not sure what to say due to what happened yesterday.

I ket them in, closing the door as she asked, "Do you know where Annabeth is? I tried calling her apartment. When she didn't answer I thought either she's ignoring me or something's wrong. And since you two-" she kind of trailed off and I felt all their eyes on me again.

"Yeah, she's upstairs." I said. We all looked up as I saw Annabeth descending the stairs. Aphrodite pulled her into a bone crushing hug when she got to the bottom. She was wearing her sweats and a loose top.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for things to turn out like that. I forgot completely that you were going to be able to make it for tea." Aphrodite carried on as she apologized profusely.

"It's fine." Annabeth said, pulling back and giving a brief smile. "Annabeth, we're just sorry that things turned out like that. We didn't mean for her to raise her voice at you." Ares said, backing up his wife.

"No worries, I'm used to it." She said, sighing. I coffee suddenly tasted bitter, and the thought at how Athena had made Annabeth feel two feet tall made anger coarse through my veins. But I had to be here for her.

I could see Aphrodite wanted to push the subject but so did Ares. He quickly stopped her by saying, "I'm sure you just would like some time to yourself, so we'll head off." Aphrodite obviously wanted to stay but decided it was the right thing.

With an exchange of good byes, the three left. I threw out my now cold coffee and followed Annabeth up the stairs to my room. She was looking out the window at the valley below. Her arms were pulled close to her chest to protect her.

I came towards her, standing in front if her. She looked up and her eyes became watery. "I'm sorry, I should have told you about it. I should have made you aware." She said, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

I guided her face to look up to me. Wiping away her tears with my thumb, I said, "Annabeth, you had enough to deal with your mom." She shook her head and I felt her legs give out under her.

Scooping her up in my arms, I carried her to the bed and pulled her into my chest. "Percy, she doesn't want anything to do with me. She doesn't want me to be her daughter anymore." She sobbed.

"I failed her. I disappointed her. Why couldn't I have been what she wanted? Why couldn't I prove to her I was what she wanted?" She said. She carried on, not letting me get a word in. Then she said something that made my hate for her mother burn bright. "Why couldn't she have just had an abortion?"

I pulled her up, carrying her as she fought against me. I put her in the shower and, holding her arms above her head, I switched on the cold shower spray. She gasped, fighting against me as it drenched us.

I turned it off and she breathed heavily. "Don't ever say that again." I said, choking back a sob. "You've gone so long hearing insulting things from your mom, that your starting to believe it."

"She has only ever made you feel small, and you're not that, you stand tall with pride, you have an amazing personality, you would go to any length to please other people." I said.

She had stopped crying and was listening intently to me. "She is just wrong. The biggest lie she has told is that you're not wanted. I want you." I said. I lowered my voice. "I don't just want you. I need you, Annabeth."

She was shocked. "Because I love very little thing about you. I don't care about what your mom thinks you're like. You make me feel like a better person. I want to be able to tell you you're beautiful and I want you to believe it. I want you to believe and understand that the days of you getting pushed around is over. I won't let anyone make you feel bad about yourself."

She swallowed and nodded. "I love you too, Percy." She said, a small smile coming onto her face. I smiled lovingly at her. She shuddered, and I realized we had just had cold water sprayed into us.

I turned the water to a hotter temperature, letting the water warm us up. I lowered my mouth to her, kissing her softly as the water flowed over us. She cupped my cheek, kissing back.

She managed to peel of her top, and I did the same. Turning off the shower, I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her, rubbing my hand up and down her arms to warm her up.

We changed into a mother pair of sweats and I different top and I lay down with her in the bed. I smiled down at her as she lay peacefully. Lacing our fingers, she kissed my neck softly and said in my ear, "I love you."

I smiled and hovered over her. "I love you too." I said. She grinned and I lowed my mouth to hers. She giggled as we cuddled up, rolling around as phew fought for dominance of who would be on top. For the first time all day, I felt freedom of expression.